Adrenocortical function and suicidal behavior in depressive disorders.

In order to examine the hypothesis that abnormal adrenocortical function is associated with suicidal behavior, morning and afternoon plasma cortisols and 1-mg dexamethasone suppression tests (DSTs) were performed in 65 patients with primary major depressive disorder. Patients with recent suicide attempts (within 28 days before DST) were compared to patients who had made past attempts and those who had never made suicide attempts with respect to age, gender, severity of depression, and plasma cortisol levels. Plasma cortisol levels did not differ significantly among the three groups. Nonsuppression on the DST was associated with presence of delusions, increasing age, and global severity of depression, but not with suicide attempts.